Following the announcement of Scott Robertson’s All Blacks team to take on Argentina in the Rugby Championship in Buenos Aires, we pick out our winners and losers.
Robertson has made just one change in personnel to his starting side as Simon Parker gets his debut while Ardie Savea moves to openside with Du’Plessis Kirifi dropped.
Elsewhere, there are bench positions for the returning Tamaiti Williams and Wallace Sititi, as well as Josh Lord and Quinn Tupaea for the Rugby Championship rematch.
Winners
Simon Parker
Robertson has not been afraid to hand inexperienced players their chance and Parker will become the seventh player to debut for the All Blacks in 2025. He is perhaps the most significant, however, given that the head coach is still looking for his long-term blindside.
Tupou Vaa’i has done a fine job at number six but Parker is the first choice player in that position for their franchise, the Chiefs, and has all the qualities necessary to be a Test back-rower. He may be at number eight for Saturday’s encounter – which also shows his versatility – but he is ultimately playing for that blindside spot going forward.
Codie Taylor
It’s 100 up for this stalwart as he becomes the 14th All Black to reach a century of caps and only the second hooker to do so, following in the footsteps of the great Keven Mealamu. Taylor has a tight hold on the All Blacks number two jersey and fully deserves his moment in the sun this Saturday as a special player raises his bat.
Tamaiti Williams
Makes his international comeback following surgery on a knee injury he picked up on Super Rugby Pacific final duty for the Crusaders and is a welcome return to the fold. Williams is a frightening talent who can play on both sides of the scrum, which only adds to his standing in the game and his availability is a significant boost.
Wallace Sititi
The same can be said of Sititi as although he was backed for a starting jersey, he joins Williams on bench duty this weekend as he works his way back from an injury. The outstanding 2024 World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year will no doubt be itching to make an impact on Saturday, especially after such an injury-hit year.
Billy Proctor and Rieko Ioane
On the basis of their form this year, they are damn fortunate to be still in the XV but, to Robertson’s credit, he is always willing to give players a chance. As he has alluded to, Proctor in particular remains a project and, given the skill set he offers, is worth persisting with.
However, Proctor and Ioane need statement performances. It has certainly not happened for the 28-year-old, who is now playing at wing after flattering to deceive in the midfield. The All Blacks boss remains a fan of the Blues star but now is the time to prove him right.
Losers
Du’Plessis Kirifi and Samipeni Finau
The victims of Sititi’s return from injury and the faith Robertson has put in Parker. With Savea very much being seen as an openside ahead of the Rugby World Cup, Kirifi was always likely to be sacrificed. It also doesn’t make sense to put him on the bench, even though he did that job against France, as he only really covers one position.
As for Finau, he has yet to convince at Test level and the New Zealand coaches evidently feel the same. The flanker has received little game time this year, despite being in every previous squad in 2025 and he has not produced a standout display. There is plenty of potential in the 26-year-old but he has to work out how best to use those physical gifts.
Injured duo
The loss of Patrick Tuipulotu and Anton Lienert-Brown is a serious chunk of change in terms of experience but both were ruled out ahead of this team announcement due to a facial injury and concussion respectively. Tuipulotu requires surgery and will miss six weeks that of course includes the Springboks fixtures while for Lienert-Brown the timescale is less clear. The hulking Tuipulotu, especially, had been finding peak form again and will be a sizeable miss in the impact he brings off the bench.
Ollie Norris
Has benefited from Williams’ injury to get plenty of opportunities this year but, with the Crusaders loosehead back, it is not a surprise to see Norris dropped from the 23. The Chiefs prop has done well, however, and will surely have a few more chances before the season is over to build on what has been a promising start to his All Blacks career.
Uncapped trio
The wait goes on for Leroy Carter, Kyle Preston and Tevita Mafileo after Robertson kept faith with a large portion of the squad that did battle against Los Pumas in Test I. There had been growing calls for wing Carter to be given a crack this week while Preston might have dreamt of a bench spot but, alas, the wait goes on.
Timoci Tavatavanawai
A player we’re very surprised not to have seen more of in 2025 as he looked a player destined to be a key part of the All Blacks squad. While Super Rugby form isn’t everything, Tavatavanawai has so much upside and is not just a battering ram in the midfield. He co-captains the Highlanders, is a defensive linchpin at centre, with his breakdown work particularly exceptional, and he reads the game incredibly well.
His support work was elite for the Dunedin-based outfit, which shows that he has an excellent rugby brain and a great engine on him. However, it is quite clear that he is currently behind Lienert-Brown and Quinn Tupaea for a place in that 23.
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